Essay On Mammograms

Why Mammograms Should be Required A mammogram is an x-ray used to detect any tumors or abnormalities in breasts. They require very a very small amount of radiation, so they are not harmful for women. Mammograms are recommended because when breast cancer is found early, it can be treated sooner in hopes that it doesn’t spread. They have been proven to reduce deaths in women of all ages (National Cancer Institute). There are two different types of mammograms: screening and diagnosis. Screening mammograms are used to check for cancer even if no symptoms exist. It is considered more or a routine check. For women 40 and older, it is recommended that they start getting screening mammograms every one to two years. It continues to be advised for older
Most major health organizations agree that an annual mammogram should happen for women in this age bracket. However, the U.S. Preventative Service Task Force believes that a test every two years does just as well (Susan G. Komen Foundation). Women ages 70 and older are not recommended by the Task Force to receive mammograms. They think this because for women already in poor health, it may not be worth it. Other major health organizations believe that if women this age are still in good health, they should continue to get checked. The risk of cancer increases with age. (Susan G. Komen Foundation). Breast Cancer is the biggest killer of our women today. 200,000 women are diagnosed every single year, and it kills around 40,000 of them. Mammograms are not only recommended, but even mandated by the federal law for most health insurance agencies. They prevent at least 15% of life-threatening tumors and are an overall help for women of all ages. It is recommended by the most prestigious health organizations in the world, and are the leading preventative measure of breast cancer today (Maggie Fox and Jane